Metallurgical condenser.



No. 851,520. PATBNTED APR. 23, 1907. W. MoA. JOHNSON.

METALLURGICAL CONDENSER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 14. 1904.

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WooLsEY MOA. masts, F IOLA, KANSAS.

METALLURGICAL CONDENSER.

Application filed July To It whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WooLsEr McA. JouN- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Iola, in the county of Allen and State of 1refractory material which may be suitably 'plates,which may also becooled. In oper- 'ation su'flicient heat is transferred through Kansas,have invented certain new and usei ful Improvements in MetallurgicalCondensers, of which the following a specification.

This invention is a metallurgical condenser, I particularly designed forthe collection of] zinc. v

My condenser is more especially intended for use in-large units and for'substantially continuous operation.

In its preferred form my condenser com prises a chamber of suitabledimensions having top and side walls of fire-brick or other cooled. Thebottom of the condenser is a plate of metal, preferably iron, the outerface of which is suitably cooled as by a current of water, air -or othercooling medium. The condenser is preferably provided with baflle themetallic base plate to cause a thin layer of solid metal to collect uponand protect the base plate. Upon this layer of frozen metal is a fluidlayer of zinc, upon and above which the zinc fumes are condensed.

Fora full understanding of my invention reference is made to theaccompanying figure illustrating in vertical longitudinal section oneform of my condenser.

Referring to the figure, the condenser is shown as comprising side andend walls 1 and top 2 of fire-brick or other suitable refractorymaterial- The base of the condenser is a metallic plate 3, to the outersurface of which a jacket 4 for the circulation-of water or othercooling medium is applied. The condenser is preferably provided withbafiie plates 5, 6, conveniently of fire-clay, some or all of which maybe provided with cooling pipes, as indicated at 7. I mayalso cool thetop and walls of the condenser, a circulatin system for cooling .the topbeing indicated at 8.

The baflie plates are indicated as arranged to provide a tortuous coursefor the volatile products of the reduction between the inlet 9 and theoutlet 10, the depending baffles 5. extending nearly to the surface ofthe condensed metal 11 and the baffles 6 extending u wardly from a pointbeneath the surface of the metal but above the base 3. The dependingbaffle walls 5 may extend to or Specification of Letters Patent.

14,1904. Serial to. 216,669.

Patented April 23, 1907.

slightly below the surface of the metal 11, thus forcing the vapors ofzinc to pass in contact with or through the condensed metal. Doors 12,12 are conveniently located to afford access to all parts of thecondenser.

In the continuous operation of a large condenser, the temperature tendsto rise rapidly, owing to the heat transferred from the furnace by thevolatile products and the heat 1 development due to thc-condcnsation ofthe zinc; furthermore, the radiating surface per unit of volume ofvolatile products passing through the condenser is reduced as thecapaeity of the condenser is increased. These considerations render itnecessary to apply to a large condenser an effective cooling system, anecessity which does not arise with small units. The metallicbase plate)crmits a rapid transfer of heat and istherefore more ell'eetive thanfire-clay walls, but it is necessary to provide means for protecting themetal of the base plate against the action of the condensed metal. Ihave found that by cooling the base plate to a'sullicient degree tomaintain u on it a thin layer of solidified zinc the meta of the plateis perfectly protected and the product may be recovered withoutcontamination. This layer of frozen zinc is indicated at 13. The liquidmetal 11 collects upon the solidified layer 13 and is preferablyintermittently tapped from the condenser through tap-hole 14.

I claim: I

1. A metallurgical condenser having an interior non-metallic surface, abase plate of metal, and means for cooling said base plate,substantially 'as described.

2. A metallurgical condenser having an interior non-metallic surface, abase plate of metal, means for cooling said base plate, and means fordirecting the vapors in a tortuous path through said condenser,substantially as described.

3. A metallurgical condenser having an interior non-metallic surface, abase plate of metal, means for cooling said base plate, baf-- fle wallsarranged to direct the vapors in a tortuous path through said condenser,and means for cooling some or all of said bafiie walls, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WOOLSEY MoA. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

A. M..Ew1Ne, E. T. EWING.

